Monday, November 27, 2006

RAZON VALSACRO - 2004

Made from 70 year-old Garnacha vines, this Spanish red is from Bodegas Escudero. The grapes were left on the vines extra-long creating extra-ripeness. After harvesting, they were partially dehydrated then fermented and racked in a mix of French and American oak.TASTING NOTES:Upon first opening this wine it is sharp with mouth-popping acidity. It almost tingles on the tongue. It is somewhat funky with cherry liquore, dried wood, and red fruits. As it settles down, the midpalate exhibits a flavor that can only be described as unpopped popcorn kernels or chichacorn (Filipinos will know what I mean) and game. There's a bit of blackberry here too with an almost nutty nuance to the wine.SCORE & RECOMENDATION:89 PTSThis is really tough one to score. For $9 this is a fascinating wine and one that demonstrates some wild and eccentric flavors. Could be very odd and offputting for some. I like this wine, but its not for everyone. It is a great wine for the price but it is more of a "one time only" wine that will leave you with a memorable experience.

1 Comments:

Your tasting notes hit it one the nose. (no pun intended) I didn't know what to think of this wine either, but you're right, it's not for everyone. The funky wet rotten wood nose, for sure, will tell some that it's corked, but it definitely isn't. Decanting didn't change the nose much, nor the flavors. It definitely "tingles" (first time I've had that sensation from non-frizzante wine) on the tongue with nice acidity. The wine actually goes very well with creamy cheeses, like brie. The smooth butteriness mellows out the sharpness of the wine and integrates nicely.